I have an exceptional relationship with my wife. We enjoy each other’s company, she is very supportive and loyal. She admires me and we spend all of our time together.

We were both previously married. She has two adult children and I have 3.
She has stated that she wanted a husband without children. Her relationship with her own children is strained. They are not close.

When we met, she was very kind to my children. She bought them gifts and was extremely friendly.

Once we were married, all of that changed.

She became rude to my kids. She didn’t attend my daughter’s wedding or my son’s graduation.

My other daughter flew in from out of state. My wife wouldn’t even say hello. We went out to dinner, my wife went to sit at another table. We went on vacation, she wouldn’t hike with my kids, and she avoided sitting with them on the beach.

Anytime my kids call in the evening, she gets upset.

I developed a habit of not Facetiming or calling or texting my children when we are together in the evenings.

To my credit, I have kept in touch with my kids. We go out to dinner, we meet up on birthdays and holidays. If I were to count our texts and phone calls, it amounts to probably 30 per month.

My wife explains that my contact with my kids is abnormal and excessive. As time has passed, she has simply become more and more critical of my kids. It’s to the point that she just doesn’t like them or want to spend any time with them.

Many of my wife’s grevances are valid. My kids are not perfect; they have been through their mistakes. My oldest has a history of smoking marijuana, my son has had repeated problems with driving under the influence. My out-of-state daughter left her husband for another man. Still, I want to disapprove of their behavior while not totally ruining my relationships with my kids.

This whole dynamic came to a crescendo this week. My daughter from out of state simply decided that she doesn’t want to Facetime, text, call or talk anymore.

She explains that my wife sees her as “the other woman” My daughter maintains that our relationship requires too much energy, and that it really was pretty easy before I met my wife. My daughter explains that my wife has forced me to choose between my spouse and my kids, and I there is certainly truth in that statement.

I believe that my daughter is seening a mistake and trying to protect me from my own historic bad judgement with women.

If any of these people loved me, they would not be trying to blackmail me. I have sacrificed all of my money, my time and my energy for them and they are all trying to manipulate me.